NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 34, 16 February 1940, Page 46

NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

OYCE, the popular little announcer on the Home Service Session at 4ZB, has made a name for herself in tennis recently, having gained the honour of representing the Dunedin Public Service in the National Centennial Sports at Wellington. Joyce has always been a very keen tennis player and has gained several honours in this game. The southern city’s best wishes will go with Joyce when she journeys to Wellington to defend Dunedin’s fame. Not a Glamour Boy Despite some public opinion concerning the glamour that surrounds radio announcers, 1ZB’s Des. Lock says that the word "slamour" was a term coined when Mary Pickford was in her Pollyanna days, and the original meaning has since been lost. Resisting a wish to find Mary Pickford, and smack her, we asked Mr. Lock exactly what he meant about radio announcers being unglamourous. "Well," he said, "my life at the moment is a cross between the Lone Ranger’s and a night watchman’s. Meaning that, being on the breakfast session, I have to get up at five a.m. and walk to the studio to be there in time for the 6 o'clock breakfast session. I meet all the night watchmen I know returning home about that time, and we are becoming quite old friends." "What about the Lone Ranger part of your identity?" we asked. "Well," he answered, "if I had a horse, I might look like the Lone Ranger, and feel good about my five o’clock rising. As it is, I haven’t

got a horse, and as there are no trams at five, I have to walk to the studio every morning!" Why He Has a Beard At the risk of appearing rude, we plucked up our courage the other day, and in the name of hundreds. of other listeners, we asked John Gordon why he wears a beard. " Well," said Mr. Gordon, stroking the beard lovingly, "I intend to wear this until they put a new invention on the marketto wit, a razor with gears. If I had an inventive brain, I should take a hut high up in the Waitakere

Ranges and let my beard and hair grow until I had perfected the gadget. My idea for the geared razor is this: It would have a speed of eighty up the face, and ninety to ninety-five down the neck. Non-skid appliances would make it safe when rounding the chin, or the Adam’s apple, and it would be a good climber. Men

with heavy growths would find the second gear best, especially. in traffic. Consumption would be low, and there would have to be ample room for luggage. Whether it could be reversed during a mix-up at a crossing, I am not yet certain." Farewell To Brian McCawe One of 4ZB’s most popular announcers, Brian McCawe, departed recently to take up duties at 3ZB Christchurch. His official farewell was broadcast from the main studio, where the Acting Station Director, G. P. Brodie, made a suitable presentation on behalf of the staff. Brian was also the recipient of a gift from his fellow announcers. The weekly Saturday night Town Hall dance broadcasts were handled by Brian, and on his final Saturday in Dunedin he was farewelled in grand fashion-by the proprietor of the dance, J. Brown. Brian McCawe had been with 4ZB since its inception in October, 1937, and has made many friends during his stay in Dunedin. He is replaced at 4ZB by announcer Jack Bremner of 3ZB. New Faces A new angle on the "should local talent be fostered" question was opened up by Doris Packer (of the cast of "I Killed the Count") in a morning interview with Marina over 1ZB. "You have plenty of local acting talent in New Zealand, as they have in Australia, but in Australia they make more active use of it, in the films, on the radio, on the stage. Australian companies tour New Zealand with many players who have in the recent past been with amateur repertory companies — why doesn’t New Zealand try

sending a similar company over to \ustralia? Australia wants new faces on the stage, and would welcome them as new faces, if not for their acting ability, which I am certain New Zealanders possess." Those Relays To put a relay through in Playland at the Exhibition when it is thronged with at least 12,000 people requires the tact of a diplomat. You string out your microphone cable and then try and keep people from standing on it... "I say, would you mind stepping off that cable?" ... No response... "I SAY, WOULD YOU MIND GETTING OFF THAT CABLE?" ... SOtto voce... . "BLAST YOU!" While this is going on, the unfortunate operator has his troubles, He is trying to contact the studio and hear its report above all the blaring and noise of Playland. Meanwhile good natured people are asking him what he is doing, and someone wants to know if he can put on the earphones... " because I’ve never had earphones on before." The operator (Joe Fraser) has the greatest sympathy for the monkey at the zoo when well meaning and otherwise kindly people poke sticks at him to "make him move."